Elation from Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust

Brook
Waimarama Sanctuary Trust Chair Dr Dave Butler said there
was elation from the trust over the Lottery Grants Board
award of $1.25m, which would be echoed by the huge group of
volunteers and supporters of the project once the news was
out.

“This is a ringing validation of the Brook
Sanctuary’s national significance, and an affirmation of
the trust’s vision and robust planning,” he said. “It
also recognises all the hard work members have put in
towards realising the vision and the strong support for the
project from our strategic partners and from the wider
community.”

Dr Butler said the $1.25m grant gets
the sanctuary to ‘within arms reach’ of starting
construction on the pest-proof fence, but the trust is firm
in its resolve to build the fence without incurring
debt.

“There is now just a $200k gap left to reach
our $4.7m target and we have other major funding
applications already lodged and being prepared,” he said.
“We’ll also be stepping up the ‘Get Behind the
Fence’ campaign.”

Dr Butler said if the Nelson
community, the Top of the South region, and the nation as a
whole maintained their support he was confident there would
be a start on the fence construction by the middle of this
year.

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